Age-related changes in regional cerebral blood flow among young to midlifeadults

USING PET with [O-15]H2O, we examined age in relation to regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) among young to mid-life adults. Previous work has largely contrasted rCBF between young and elderly age groups dichotomously. This s tudy maps the continuum of normal age-related changes in rCBF from early to mid-adulthood. We obtained images from 37 healthy volunteers between 19 an d 50 years of age during an eyes-closed resting baseline condition. There w as a negative correlation between age and rCBF in mesial frontal cortex, in volving the anterior cingulate region (r = 0.63, p<0.001). These findings r eflect differences in the distribution of rCBF evident in early to mid-adul thood that may be associated with subsequent changes in memory and executiv e functioning in later life. NeuroReport 10:2493-2496 (C) 1999 Lippincott W illiams & Wilkins.